By Omar Silva

Editor/Publisher: National Perspective Bz – Digital 2025

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Saturday 1st March 2025

Belize once stood tall on the world stage, a beacon of moral conviction in international affairs. A nation that fought tirelessly for its own independence in the corridors of the United Nations should inherently understand the plight of a people denied their sovereignty. Yet today, the People’s United Party (PUP) government, under Prime Minister John Briceño and his Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca, has demonstrated an alarming lack of backbone in its foreign policy by quietly withdrawing from the Hague Group—a coalition formed to uphold the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israel.

From Moral Leadership to Political Cowardice

Belize was once a founding member of this critical group, a proud participant in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, standing firmly with Palestine and human rights. But now, without any public announcement, Belize's name has vanished from the Hague Group's website. Reports indicate that this government, fearing the pro-Israel stance of a potential Trump administration in the United States, has decided to back away from its previous commitments.

When questioned, Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca feebly responded that "the matter is under review by Cabinet." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Briceño dodged and danced around the question, stating that while Belize "continues to support Palestine," the country must take "a realistic look at what is happening around us." If ever there were a euphemism for political retreat, this is it.

A Dangerous Precedent in Foreign Policy

This is not just a matter of diplomatic posturing—it is a betrayal of principle. Belize’s sudden withdrawal from the Hague Group and its potential backpedaling on the ICJ genocide case against Israel signals a dangerous precedent: that this government’s commitments on the global stage are not worth the paper they are signed on.

The implications extend beyond Palestine. Belize itself is locked in a legal battle with Guatemala at the ICJ over its territorial integrity. How can we, as a nation, expect international legal bodies to take our case seriously when we are so quick to abandon our own commitments to international justice? If Belize's leaders can waver on an issue of human rights and sovereignty abroad, what does this say about their ability to defend our own sovereignty in the face of Guatemala’s territorial claim?

The Forgotten Lesson of Omar Torrijos

Have Prime Minister Briceño and Foreign Minister Fonseca forgotten history? When Belize was struggling for its independence, the only Central American leader who stood by our side in the international arena was Panama's strongman, General Omar Torrijos. Against overwhelming odds, Torrijos championed Belize's cause when no other country in the region would. Today, Belize finds itself in a position to return the favor by standing with Palestine, a people fighting for their right to statehood, just as we did decades ago. And yet, our leaders choose cowardice over courage, capitulation over conviction.

A Pattern of Weakness

This latest foreign policy retreat is yet another example of the spineless governance of the PUP administration. Under Briceño, we have seen:

• A lack of transparency in economic dealings
• Weakness in standing up to powerful financial institutions
• Failure to hold political elites accountable
• And now, a willingness to bend under external pressures on the global stage

The reality is that this government has abandoned Belize’s proud tradition of taking bold stances in international affairs. This is not the Belize that once fought for its own sovereignty with unwavering determination. This is a Belize under an administration that prioritizes political expediency over principle, opting for quiet retreats rather than standing firm in the face of pressure.

The Call for Accountability

The Belizean people must demand an explanation. Why was Belize removed from the Hague Group's official listings? Will the government also withdraw from South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel? If so, what does that say about our credibility on the world stage? More importantly, what does it say about our ability to defend our own territorial integrity at the ICJ against Guatemala?

Belizeans deserve leaders who do not falter when the stakes are high. We deserve a government that honours its commitments, both to its people and to the principles of international law and justice. Briceño and Fonseca owe the people of Belize more than evasive statements and half-hearted justifications. They owe us integrity, transparency, and above all, courage.

The world is watching, and history will remember. Will Belize stand on the side of justice, as it once did, or will it be remembered as a nation that turned its back when it mattered most?